Improvement in covers for traveling-trunks



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

EL RIDGE FOSTER, .OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 23,562, dated April 12, 1859.

To all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ELBEIDGE Fos'rEP., of the city of Hartford, county of I'Iartford, and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Mode of Constructing Covers for rlraveling-Trunks and other Articles; vand I do hereby declare t-hat the following is a correct description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in the formation of covers or cases to protect traveling-trunks and packages from injury While traveling, and in case of accident to save them from sinking in the water.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construct-ion and operation.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view of the cover when not in use; Fig. 2, a view when fastened on a trunk; Fig. 3, an end View when in use, open; Fig. 4, a transverse section; Fig. 5, a plan view of bottom when extended, and Fig. 6 the case when folded up, (end View.)

In the formation of my case or cover I do not confine myself to any particular shape or size of the inflated or other parts, or the method ofV attaching the same to a trunk or bale of goods, tbc., because the shape of the articles requiring the covers are various. I call it a cover and life-preserver for this reason: It can equally as well be applied to a traveling-tru nk, inail-bag, bale of goods, or other article Where there is a risk in traveling or transportation by Water.

The main part or groundwork of my cover is composed of such description of material as usually employed in the common traveli ing-trunk covers. The sides A are made with a light thin iron frame of the size of the face of the trunk, and are covered on each side with cloth or duck, and with loose parts at the bottom and each end to form the covers of the ends and bottom. At the bottom edge of the frame A,I attach two or more straps B,with buckles to fasten the two sides on the trunk-bottom, also on the edges of the frame A. On the loose parts O, I attach straps and buckles to fasten the ends together on the trunk ends. The straps D are fastened to the loweriedge of the frame A and pass over the top of the trunk and buckled together when the trunk is simply used for traveling; and when the time comes for using the elastic inflated chambers E these straps are buckled tightly, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to draw u p and extend to support the sides A of the angular air-chambers E when the article is to be used as a oating preserver, bearing in mind that the straps Vc are first unbuckled to allow the sides to rise up to a horizontal position at Figs. 3 and 4f. 1

The part F that forms the angular part of the air-iniiated chambers 'E is composed of india-rubber cloth or any other Water-proof elastic and suitable material, one edge being fastened to the lower edge of the frames A and to the bottom edge of the inner sides, and allthe inner surface covered with the same material, if required. When notin use the whole is folded up, as in Fig. G, the loose parts being tucked in, so that the Whole concern will not occupy much more space than a common trunk-cover.

The air-chambers E are prepared for use without disturbing the trunk internally simplyvby unbuckling the different straps at the ends Aand raising up the sides to form the angular air-chambers, the valves II being opened to admit the air and then closed to ret-ain it. The valves must. also be opened when required to discharge the air. 

